And it started now.
Gideon smiled at her. “Do you have any cards lying around here? We could play a game, if you want.”
Belisandre glared at him. “As if I would want to play cards with you.” She stood and her skirts billowed around her ankles. “You warriors are all the same. You think you’re all tough, but you’re too stupid to see what’s right in front of you.”
She wasted no more time. Her magic shot from her hands as it arced toward Gideon. A green flame circled him, touched him, and caressed him like he’d been the long-lost lover it waited for. His bloodcurdling scream made her flinch, but she kept going, kept pushing, her heart pumping excited blood through her veins.
When Belisandre pulled her magic back, Simone gaped at Gideon, not sure what to do next. Gideon dropped to his knees, then fell face-first, but garnered enough energy to turn to Simone and shout, “Run!”
Belisandre laughed, long and hard and evil even to her own ears. “Where will she run? Hmm? Think she’ll get away?” She dropped beside him and shoved her face next his. The smell of burnt flesh took her breath away. “Trust me, I’ll find her. I’ll find every last one of you.”
“Why?” His voice cracked.
“Because. I can.” With that, she stood, using her power to create a hammer. When she jabbed it into his spine, it broke his neck with a resounding crack that sung through the air, wrapping around her. No sounds came from him, and in fact, she’d done a courtesy to the poor warrior. Only a little of his skin remained, his bones and veins and arteries laid plain for all to see.
He would have died soon, so she helped the process along. Simple as that. Although, she guessed she’d actually started the process too, but that was just semantics.
She shook herself from her thoughts and prowled forward to find the woman, and after she only had to hide the bodies. She moved to the mammoths and untied them from the thick trees they were fastened to. She slapped them on the butt. Neither moved, only looked at her, stooped down, and ate some fine grass.
Stubborn fools, she thought. Using her magic, she spanked them, making them run fast into the Forest of the Giants. Good. Now they couldn’t be a viable escape option.
Simone had run further into the woods, so Belisandre dragged Gideon along with her but only for a short time, to hide the body better. She didn’t want the others to return and find him dead.
Not right away.
Instead, they’d return to find an attack on the cabin, with her missing, and the other two dead. A perfect plan. Nobody would see it coming. She was brilliant.
But first, for any of this to work, she had to find the warrior that got away.
“Here, little warrior. Come to the sorceress and I’ll let you live.” She snickered. “I promise.”
The rustling of leaves came from behind a tree to her right, so she rushed over and ran straight into a sharp sword.
Laughing, she stood there as the blade cut into her skin but left no marks.
Simone’s mouth fell open, her eyes wild and panicked. “How?”
“Easy. I’m magic. You can’t hurt magic with metal.”
“You can’t kill me. Please. The others will know.” Her whiny voice made Belisandre cringe. Begging. From a supposed warrior. Pathetic.
Belisandre smiled, wrapped her palm around the blade, yanked it out of Simone’s hands (not that Simone resisted), and tossed it aside. “You have no idea what I’m capable of. Nobody does. But soon, everyone will.”
Snaking her hand out, she curled it around Simone’s throat and lifted her in the air against the tree. Her magic did the heavy work, but she squeezed and killed Simone one stolen breath at a time.
The warrior gagged and choked, swatted at her hand, trying to get it away from her, but she couldn’t fight magic. When her hands went limp and one last attempt to take a breath was made, Belisandre dropped the body to the ground.
Dead. Just like that. Easier than even she’d thought.
Now that she’d tasted it, she wanted more.
She marched back to the cabin, threw papers around, flung pots and pans to the floor, and ripped apart any remaining contents left in the cabinets. She kicked holes through the front door and the walls inside as she used her magic as a buffer.
When she’d finished, she stepped to the exit and spun around, admiring her work. Nobody would suspect she had anything to do with this. Just for good measure, she ripped some of the cloth from her gown, making sure it stuck to the doorway, as if she’d been dragged from the cabin.
She rubbed her palms together in glee. That had been a lot of work, and she found herself a bit tired, but she put her back to the cabin, walking off into the setting sun. Her family anticipated her news, and she couldn’t wait to give it to them. But, she had one more thing that had to be accomplished first.
The Frost Mages had no idea what would be coming for them. None of them did. And she wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
She couldn’t wait to see their wretched faces droop with surprise when they all met their death. If only they’d left her alone and let her stay. If only they hadn’t used her for all their dirty work.
Now, they would know the same kind of pain she’d felt all these years. Well, not all of them. Only some. She’d kill most of the people, the Mages, but she had a special place made up just for the King. A place she could hold him for a long time.
The fun had started and she couldn’t be more ready.
“Jovi. Jovi. Wake up. We’re here.”
Her eyes opened and she stared into Meical’s blue ones. “Huh?”
A few blinks later, she realized darkness had fallen around her. Day four. Gone. Day Five had begun. She still had the full day, plus two more. They could do this.
Meical shuffled down Horn, which left a chill against her skin. She drew her cloak tighter, but it didn’t help much. “We have ingredients to gather. I hope you don’t mind, though. We passed The Waterfall. It will be the most difficult to get, so we will end there.”
“Did we turn around and take the Beastly Pass again, then?”
Meical nodded. “Yes, well, I guess we never planned another way. The minute you fell asleep Bastien and I talked it out. It made sense to start with the easy and end at the hard.”
“Yeah, I get that.” Jovi slid down Horn’s side, then ruffled her hand over the top of her head. She couldn’t imagine how atrocious she must look. A yawn escaped as she stretched her arms up over her head, but the nap had done her some good, at least.
In fact, her eyes were wired and ready for the challenges lying ahead. If there were any. Hopefully, it would be as smooth as milk from a cow's utter, but if not, at least she’d be rested enough to deal with it.
Jovi glanced around and realized they had returned to The Mammoth Fields. Brown tents layered the area, but only a few men and women sat around a blazing fire in the center of the camp. Perhaps all the others already slept. It had to be late.
Jovi didn’t remember what it felt like to be aware of time, of when she should have slept and woke, of when she should have eaten. Only days ago, she’d lived a normal, if not secluded, life, but now life had thrown a curveball, a twist in the straight and narrow, and she didn’t know if she’d ever find her way back. Not that she’d want everything to go back to the way it had been, but a little bit of normal would go a long way to calm her erratic heartbeat.
Hopefully, Meical could get the mammoth bone they needed for the recipe and they would be on their way. Now that she thought about it…
“Where will we find mammoth bone? And how will we grind it?” Jovi ran her hands through Horn’s fur. He looked back, but hadn’t grunted or blew his snout at her, a welcomed change.
Meical turned while he pointed out over the distance. “Way back there, behind those almost dead trees, is a graveyard of sorts. We bury the mammoth’s that die of sickness or old age back there, so Bastien and I will dig one up, scrape some bone away from the corpse, if there’s one even left, and bring it b
ack to camp to grind it up with our grinding stone. Simple.”
Jovi sighed. It hadn’t sounded easy. It seemed like a lot of work and a lot of energy would be required to do it. Instead of voicing her concerns, which probably didn’t drift over her uncle’s mind once, she forced a smile. “Sounds good. Do you need any help?”
Meical grunted. “Does it look like I need help?”
Jovi smirked. “Probably not. Well, I guess, have fun?”
He chuckled. “Always.”
Bastien ducked in front of them as he came from the tents. He carried a thick, pointed shovel. “Let’s get this party started.”
Meical shook his head as Bastien passed by. He met Jovi’s eyes and rolled his own. “Sometimes, you can’t pick who your best friend is. Sometimes, it just happens. I swear, I had nothing to do with it.”
Jovi smirked. She could see the humor twinkling in Meical’s eyes, so she knew he was joking. He loved Bastien. Even if he annoyed Meical sometimes.
A hand glided over her elbow and she spun around, a frown on her face, until she laid eyes on Cappa. Then she grinned. “Hey. Where you been?”
Cappa shrugged. “Here and there. Just kind of looking around. Meical suggested we get some rest while they get the bone we need.”
Jovi nodded. “That makes sense, I guess.”
She didn’t need to rest, though. Not anymore. She’d fallen asleep on the ride here and now she felt better than she had in days. Cappa might have longed for it, but not her.
He raised his eyebrows. “Well, are you going to sleep?”
She shook her head. “Not a chance. I slept the whole way here. I’m wide awake.”
“I didn’t sleep, but I couldn’t now even if I wanted to.” He paused as he looked back over the horizon where the Fire Mages had attacked before. “Which I don’t.”
Of course, he wouldn’t sleep. Not with her uncle and Bastien off digging up the earth. He guarded her, no matter what, and he wouldn’t stop now.
So, she stood still and stared off into the night sky as she watched the stars glitter and shine around a moon that looked full, minus a sliver. She couldn’t stop her mind from going to thoughts of her mother and her father. Stuck inside a castle that should be safe, but wasn’t.
Although, if her father would admit his mistake, then this whole thing could have been over before it began. Would he go back and rule the same as he had, barely at all, once the Frost Mages left? Or would he change?
Probably not…she knew him well enough. He wouldn’t change. He wouldn’t see this as his mistake, but as the fault of the Mages. It takes two to make a conflict though, at least in her eyes.
If she didn’t make it back in time, perhaps it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have stopped his reign.
What am I thinking? How could that even enter my head? He’s my father, and I love him, she chastised herself.
But she hadn’t loved the King. He didn’t inspire love, nor fear for that matter. He hadn’t inspired a thing. Giving the kingdom what they wanted was easy, but making sure they had what they needed…another story entirely.
Jovi’s legs moved, almost of their own accord, as she drifted toward the small pool of water, but she knew it wouldn’t matter. She couldn’t outrun her thoughts, no matter how badly she wanted to.
She slammed her back into a tree as she stopped, breaths coming fast and hard. Her eyes watered, tears threatening to spill, but she somehow held them back.
Everything is a mess. I don’t know how to do this. I can’t. Look what it’s doing to me, she thought to herself.
Never in her life had she ever had a hateful thought, nothing like what had just floated through her mind, a passing whisper that affected her more than she cared to admit. That had to have been the absolute worst thought she’d had in her entire life. Even knowing she thought it made her stomach curl. What would her uncle, Bastien, or Cappa, say if they knew?
They’d look at her with disgust. They’d think her unfit. Or they wouldn’t meet her eyes at all. She didn’t know which option would hurt worse.
Cappa came into view as he peered around the tree with questioning brows. She shook her head, hoping he’d take the hint. She didn’t want to see him, or anyone. Not right now. Why couldn’t they just give her a little space once in a while?
“Jovi?” Her name was a question on his lips, but the way he said it made her heart tremble.
She turned her head away, afraid to look at him. “What is it?” Her voice broke.
He came closer, slow, hesitant. “What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.” Lies. All lies.
A few more stolen steps brought him in front of her, but she still wouldn’t look at him. He took her chin between his hands and turned her face toward him. “Something is bugging you. Tell me what it is.”
She was helpless to not look at him now. Even though she jerked and tried to pull away, it didn’t matter. His hold was firm and unrelenting. She shook her head as much as she could. Back and forth, like her life depended on it. “I can’t.”
Cappa rubbed his chin. “I know something’s wrong, but I can see you don’t want to talk about it. What I don’t understand is why? What happened back at camp? You were fine…and then you weren’t. How did things change so fast for you?”
He didn’t get it, probably never would. How could she even attempt to explain it? Her emotions were a jumbled mess, one she couldn’t decipher no matter how hard she tried. All the thoughts she’d shoved to the back of her mind, well, they had a way of pushing to the surface at the most inopportune times. She couldn’t tell him all that, though. If she tried, she would only end up in tears, and she really didn’t want to cry in front of him. Cappa already thought her weak, she was sure, so why would she give him even more proof to confirm just how weak she really was?
“Jovi? Please. Talk to me.”
This time, she couldn’t stop the tear from rolling down her cheek. She tilted her head and made it fall faster, but he still noticed. And right there, she knew. She couldn’t resist him anymore. More than anything, she needed someone to talk to. He’d already proved he could listen, more than once.
So, she faced him and let the tears fall. “I’m horrible. The thoughts I have, especially about my father…they make me sick.”
“What thoughts? Tell me. I promise not to judge. I’ve had my share of bad thoughts about my own family, trust me.”
Should she tell him? The whole truth, with no stone left unturned? Would he look at her the same, with those shining eyes? Probably not. She was selfish enough that she didn’t want to lose that, no matter what.
How she wanted to talk to him, though. She wanted to lay all her sins bare in front of him, but she didn’t know for sure if he could take it all…she didn’t know if he would be able to keep his cool, or if her truth would change his opinion of her forever. But maybe it would be better to anger him, to lay all her treacherous thoughts bare, to have him hate her now, as opposed to later.
No. She couldn’t do it. Not now. Maybe not ever.
“You would judge me.” She narrowed her eyes. “Trust me on that. You don’t need to know everything. I said I don’t want to talk about it, so leave me alone. Go back to camp and leave me alone!” She screamed the last and hoped it would surprise him enough to send him running, but he only stood there. And to think, a mere moment ago, she’d almost laid it all out for him to have seen…
Cappa raised his hands in front of him and waved them back and forth. “Whoa, screamer. Where’s this anger coming from?” After he paused, he ran a hand through his hair and blew out a sigh. “My intention wasn’t to upset you, Princess. I followed you to help you. If you don’t want to talk, fine, but if you don’t let it out, it will poke at you until you are so bothered by it you want to scream. Again.”
Jovi dropped her hands to her sides as she curled them into fists. “The only thing bothering me right now is you. I need some space, Cappa. Please, let me have it. Leave me alone
, if only for a few minutes.” She heard the desperation in her own voice and hated herself for it. If her anger and yelling hadn’t deterred him, maybe she could appeal to him this way.
After a minute of silence, she caught his eyes on hers, staring so hard she thought he might see straight into her soul. She shifted and wrapped her arms around her chest. “Cappa, I—”
Cappa stomped forward and put his face right in hers, which stopped her words. “No, this time you’re going to keep that pretty little mouth of yours closed. For once.”
She pressed her lips together.
“Good. Now, since that’s settled…you can listen. I know the burden that fell on your shoulders when the Frost Mages attacked. I get it, more than you know, but you need to have someone to lean on. To talk to. Jovi, if you don’t, you’ll go crazy. I speak from personal experience here, so trust me. Please, let me be the one you talk to, but if you can’t talk to me, then find someone. Meical. Bastien. I don’t care who. Don’t keep it all bottled inside. It will turn you into something you hate.”
She’d heard everything he said and knew how right he was, but the one thing her mind settled on, the thing that pulled her heartstrings, had been that he’d called her Jovi. Not Princess.
She wanted to fall into him, to scream “yes” with so much force it threw him back. His shoulders were capable. They could hold the burdens. But, she also knew she couldn’t let him share her responsibilities. She already depended on him too much. The title of Queen would be hers one day, so she had to learn to rule, and she had to start with her own heart.
A knot sunk in her belly, but she forced her face neutral, emotionless. Then, she took a step away from him. “Thank you, Cappa, Guard of Kingsperch, for the offer you’ve bestowed upon me. Unfortunately, I am a Princess and you are but a guard. I cannot share royal issues with you. Your orders are to protect me, and you do that well, but you are not my advisor.”
Cappa’s mouth fell open for a few seconds. After he closed it, he dropped his head and his neck disappeared as he angled to the side.